Fall River, Massachusetts: A former dentist has been accused of claiming $130,000 in false Medicaid claims, prescribing drugs to himself and using paper clips instead of stainless steel posts for root canals.
Michael Clair, who was suspended from the Medicaid program 8 years ago, was indicted at the conclusion of an investigation performed by the attorney general’s Medicaid fraud division that began in 2005.
The Herald News reports that following his suspension the 51-year-old dentist hired other dentists who were eligible to bill Medicaid. It is also alleged that Clair prescribed Combunux, Hydrocondone and Percocet to his staff members, who gave some or all of the drugs back to him.
Perhaps the most shocking allegation against the disgraced dentist is that he used paperclips in place of more expensive stainless steel posts in root canal surgery. The attorney general’s office noted that while paperclips are acceptable for temporary use, if used long-term they run the risk of causing infection and pain.
The litany of charges against the dentist includes : five counts of false Medicaid claims, three counts of larceny of more than $250, two counts of illegally prescribing a Class B substance, two counts of assault and battery, and illegally prescribing a Class C substance.
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That was bad. He must have done lots of research to invent paper clip root canal. Good that he was finally caught.
That was bad. He must have done lots of research to invent paper clip root canal. Good that he was finally caught.